No Vote Of Confidence For Deven Thompkins
March 26th, 2024
Returner/receiver/runner Deven Thompkins.
All signs point to change for the Bucs at the returner position manned by receiver/returner Deven Thompkins last season.
This isn’t exactly a revelation. Tampa Bay has a new offensive coordinator and a new chief of special teams. Those kinds of moves breed change and new faces won’t mean big-name players leaving the building.
Thompkins was solid but not spectacular as a punt returner last season. Kickoff returns are more rare in the modern NFL and Thompkins was just meh in his 16 returns last season. His longest was only 32 yards.
The NFL changed its kickoff return rule, so teams will be tinkering with two returners and it’s unknown how that will shake out in Tampa and across the league.
Joe asked Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht today if he was set at returner or seeking competition. Licht’s reply didn’t include the name “Thompkins.”
“Oh, no. We’re always looking for competition [at returner]. All positions, especially [at returner] the way it may look now with two returners, “Licht said. “Yeah, we’ll be looking there.”
Joe suspects Thompkins will be texting Dave Canales come late August.
March 26th, 2024 at 1:02 pm
Also trade deadline pushed back a week so more time for Licht to get you an edge rusher Joe!
March 26th, 2024 at 1:03 pm
Also trade deadline pushed back one more week so more time for Licht to get you an edge rusher Joe!
March 26th, 2024 at 1:05 pm
“Always looking” is pretty much expected, but not necessarily a “statement” about Thomkins; who’s been a
relatively spectacular upgrade over Jaelon (“sidelines”) Darden.
Thompkins has been a solid “developmental” type of player, just from watching the games in which he’s participated, imo.
March 26th, 2024 at 1:08 pm
I think we might see more RBs returning the ball with the new rule change.
March 26th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
The new rule is good except if the ball touches down before the “landing zone” (between the 20 and the endzone) the ball is automatically spotted at the 40 yard line. That means no squib kicks and onside kicks are limited to 4th quarter only.
March 26th, 2024 at 1:09 pm
Keep Thompkins on the roster. At worse he’s a fourth WR and a back up kickoff and punt returner in the event the Bucs find someone better.
March 26th, 2024 at 1:13 pm
Tompkins fielded punts which controlled field position most of the season. Additionally, he is built for flysweeps and dropped fewer passes the Evans.
P.S. He is cheap.
March 26th, 2024 at 1:22 pm
Trey Palmer was an exciting kick and punt returner in college. Why did we never see him utilized in that role as his initial burst is best in NFL according to NextGen????????????
March 26th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
RIP Onside Kick
March 26th, 2024 at 1:35 pm
Agree with stated above on the RBs running the kicks from here on out and they have a better chance of breaking some tackles
One of the best moves was getting rid of the horrid ST coach that was just cashing checks the past 6 years with the bucs
March 26th, 2024 at 1:37 pm
Agreed, Thompkins has a lot of heart and plays bigger than his size; but I’d rather see him in Carolina blue than pewter. We should upgrade KR & #4 WR
March 26th, 2024 at 1:40 pm
As an alternative to onside kick, should have 4th and 20 from the oppositions 20.
March 26th, 2024 at 1:44 pm
Gotta say he is a good and gonna get better player he’s smaller and fast
March 26th, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Onside kicks are still allowed if you are trailing in the 4th Quarter
March 26th, 2024 at 1:57 pm
Not a fan of Thompkins. #4 or #5 WR at best. Return game is only average. He isn’t expensive and has speed. Hope the new OC can determine how to use him better.
March 26th, 2024 at 2:03 pm
THANK GOD!!!!
March 26th, 2024 at 2:25 pm
Tompkins was average at best. Fielded punts reliably but ran East/West more than North
March 26th, 2024 at 2:57 pm
With the new tackling rule and the kickoff rule , might as well be watching flag football.
March 26th, 2024 at 3:03 pm
My eyes see an indecisive returner who lacks precise cut-back ability. His speed is elite but he isn’t athletic enough to make defenders miss and he has a tendency to not run straight ahead. He prefers to try and circle around the special teams defenders instead of trying to juke a couple and burst through.
Good return guys are hard to find.
March 26th, 2024 at 4:03 pm
Palmer returned one in preseason and looked great. Decisive and fast. Thompkins plays like a 7-footer except he’s tiny and goes down with one hand.
March 26th, 2024 at 4:13 pm
Not much of a receiver either. Too small. Doesn’t get open much. Same with Palmer. Need a better #3 wr
March 26th, 2024 at 4:33 pm
I guess I’m in the minority that likes Thompkins. He didn’t have too many drops, probably better than Palmer, and he did OK on the screens and end arounds. I’d like to see him get the ball on some quick slants with some room for YAC. I think Thompkins has some upside if we can get him the ball down the field….
March 26th, 2024 at 4:37 pm
Put White back there. The new kick-off is basically a screen play.
March 26th, 2024 at 4:52 pm
Last year the ruling screamed not to bother trying to run it back. Very few attempted it. I think DT is an asset to the team, just not in the position they had him playing.
March 26th, 2024 at 5:33 pm
He’lll be fine once the new OC sees him in training camp
March 26th, 2024 at 6:15 pm
The new kick rule may fall in this guys favor..where the defenders line up is usually where he makes someone miss..he might return several this year
March 26th, 2024 at 8:03 pm
Not a fan of Thomkins as a receiver. While he had a Td for 26 yards, his other 16 catches averaged just over 3 yards a catch.
March 26th, 2024 at 8:15 pm
He was average… Which sadly was outstanding for the Buccaneers over the last several years.
I think the new kick off verification set up is going to help Tucker see the field
March 26th, 2024 at 8:48 pm
Damn steelers took my guy…think its gonna be a shrewd move ..corradell patterson 2 yrs 6milion$. Always wanted him as a player. Can fill couple roster spots. Red zone wr, blocking wr, goalline short yardage rb, kickoff returner, hback. Damn ! think he is not properly utilized .
March 26th, 2024 at 8:48 pm
Nothing wrong with competition. Let the best man win the job!
March 26th, 2024 at 8:52 pm
unfortunately could not cement himself on roster..his career looks like a practice squad guy with occasional appearances
March 27th, 2024 at 1:01 am
There are very very few good kicker returners anymore. Again, all the morons complaining about this guy are living in decades past – because Thompkins was middle of the pack on both kickoff returns and punt returns.
Also with the NFL doing everything they can to ruin the game to appeal to women and Eurotrash, it’s not like who is returning the ball will matter.
March 27th, 2024 at 11:13 am
Pick up another bruising RB to help carry the RB load and have White take returns. He’s proven to be good catching the ball and creating yardage, this seems like a no-brainer.
March 29th, 2024 at 8:01 am
Joe is on a roll of L takes if he think Thompkins won’t be on the week 1 roster; and sighting the coaching change as the reason. Lmao